VietJet receives first A321neo aircraft

NDO/VNA – The low-cost carrier Vietjet has become the first airline in Southeast Asia to receive the delivery of an A321neo (new engine option).

The Airbus aircraft landed at Tan Son Nhat International Airport on January 2 from Hamburg, Germany.

The A321neo, registered as VN-646, is powered by Pratt & Whitney’s latest-generation GTF engines. It is also the 17th aircraft to be delivered to Vietjet from Airbus in 2017.

Fitted with 230 comfortable, leather seats and high-quality carpeting, the first five rows of Vietjet’s spacious, new A321neo have been especially designed to accommodate passengers flying Skyboss, the airline’s premium service. The aircraft’s interior also features a unique colour-changing LED light system and striking decor to create a comfortable and refreshing ambience through the whole cabin.

According to the aircraft manufacturer, its GTF engines offer a significant reduction in fuel consumption — at least 16% from day one and 20% by 2020 — as well as 75% reduction in noise and 50% in emissions. The engines were first introduced by Pratt & Whitney in 2016. Vietjet is one of the very first airlines in the world to incorporate the engines into its aircraft.

The new aircraft will begin operating on domestic and international routes to and from Vietnam in January 2018.

On this occasion, Vietjet also announced its decision to upgrade an existing order for 42 A320neo aircraft to the superior and larger A321neo models. Accordingly, the airline now has a total of 73 A321neo and 11 A321ceo on order for future delivery.

The A321neo combines a higher capacity with the lowest operating costs in its class, offering unbeatable efficiency. This aircraft will be a real asset in Vietjet’s expansion plans in such a competitive market, Fabrice Bregier, Airbus Chief Operating Officer cum President of Commercial Aircraft, said.

The A320 family aircraft has greatly contributed to Vietjet’s impressive operation performance, with the airline’s technical reliability rate standing at 99.6% in 2017. The aircraft have also helped Vietjet maintain some of the lowest operating costs in the airline world, said Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao, Vietjet President and CEO.